Thursday, May 21, 2015

Pte Cyril Iles, lost at Pozieres, 1916

When General Gough congratulated the men of the 2nd Australian Division, saying they had 'inflicted a severe defeat on the enemy and secured us most valuable ground,' he wasn't thinking of the 6,846 casualties which were the cost. The victory was severe on the 23 Infantry Battalion which had participated in the battle. Cyril Iles, a law clerk of Windsor was just one of the men who disappeared in the bombardment, never to be seen again. His name was recorded on the Kensington Methodist Church Roll of Honour, and also included in the Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour. There seems to be no obvious connection to the local area, but he was perhaps boarding locally and gave his parents' names on his attestation form.

Nominated by the National Library of Australia for perpetual preservation in the Pandora Archive

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About Me

I am a community historian (ie, not paid) from Essendon. The content of my Empire Called database (see the link to the PBWorks website) is the result of nearly 25 years' research. The Empire Called blog is a companion for the PBWorks website of the same name.
Time Travellers in Essendon and Flemington is set up in the same way, with a website and a blog to report additions to the website. The website is a vehicle to publish longer pieces of research that are too long for newsletters, various indexes, and photos of local history interest. You may find something of use for your research.